Electrical automatic repeating mechanism for automatic phonographs



Fgabo'w. 1925.

M. L. 0R ELECTRICAL AUTOMATIC'REPEATING MECHANISM AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS I SJSheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14 JVZZZCUZUZ L0 UZWZ/ M. L. 0RD

ELECTRICAL AUTOMATIC REPEATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Ju ly 14, 1921 Feb. w. 215. I 1,525,5m

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Feb, m 1925. 1525mm M. p... 0RD

ELECTRICAL AUTOMATIC REPEATING MECHANISM FOR A UTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Fil July 14 1921 3 Sheets Sheei. 5

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I cant MALCOLM L. ORD, 'OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Application filed July 14, 1921. Serial No. 484,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I. MALCOLM a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Electrical Automatic Repeating Mechanism for Automatic Phonographsmf which the following is'a specification.

The object of my irvention is to provide novel electrical means for automatically closing an electric circuit whereby to throw into operative engagement a suitable mechanical device-adapted to stop thereprO- ducer and move same to position for repeating a record or beginning a new record,

' .adapted for use with any and all types of disc phonograph records, irre'spectiveof the diameter, size, thickness or length of tone grooves in such records, and especially to provide a mechanism adapted for use as an improvement on the automatic phonograph disclosed in my pending application Serial #401,105, filed Au st 4th, 1920.

I attain these an other objects of my in-' vention by the mechanism disclosed inthe accompanying drawing in which- Fig. l-is a top plan view of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section of 1 same, partly, in elevation, the section line bein taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, but witha portion of the smaller end of the telescopic tube 14 broken away, and a part of members 18 and 19 also shown in section; 1

Fig. 3is. a vertical longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig; 1; 4

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the mecha- Fi 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a complete diagrammatic view of the circuits employed in the repeating mechanism and the rest of the automatic phonograph aswelL.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustratin my invention, I provide a suitable mova le casting 7 on which is cast the first sectionof the telescopic tone arm 14. Mounted on bosses 37 of casting 7 are tracks L. Grin,

' 10 by means of rollers 25, and is then conducted to the side bars 24 of the carriage 10. I provide arsuitable housing 17 supporting the lead screw 16 which moves the carriage 10 along the record while playing at the proper thread pitch of the record by means of a correspondingly threaded nut 1.5 :when r the tone arm is lowered to playing position. The top of the carriage is rubber thus insulating thecircuits from one another.

I provide a reproducer 1 attached to the arm 1 and pivotally mounted. to the carriage support bracket 18 as shown in Fig. 1,

' by means of an insulation bracket 19 through the pivoted arms 1' and 1 as shown in Fig. 2.

When in playing position on the record reproducer 1 is held in central location under carriage 10 by means of feather coil springs 4 and 4', and midway between the platinum points 3 and 3. The latinum points 3 and 3 are contact points or an electric circuit from bar or track member 5 by means of the 'busbar 9 which is connected to carriage bracket 18 by means of wire 21 asshown in Fig. 1. Busbar 9" is insulated 'from track 5 by suitable insulation 35 as shown in producerarm 1 carries platinum points 2 and 2 which are positioned directly oppositc the corresponding platinum contact v points 3 and 3' respectively as shown in Fig.

' 1. These contact pdintscomplete-a circuit through reprodueer arm 1 mounted on insulated bracket 19 by means ofwire 20 which is connected to side bar 24; of" the carriage. Wires 22 and 23 whichleadito tracks?) and 5' .with which they contact at points '8 and 8', connect with a suitable coil switch to cause the mechanical operation of any de-.'

.sired mechanism for record changing or repeating, the device being s ecially designed for operationwith the mec ianism disclosed in my application Serial #401,105; when ever contact points 2' and 3. or contact points2 and 3 come into contact with each other and thus close the. circuit. Inasmuch as the reproducer remains in its central position under the carriage at the start of the --record, due to the action of coil springs i and 4 and continues thus to remain through of therecord the needle reaches the last.

groove and remains there in the case of some records due to lack of further advance because of a lack of further groove on the record. But the lead screw 16 continues to force carriage 10 along by means of its onierative contact with the threaded nut 15. T

is operation causesthe coil spring 4 to compress. Reproducer 1 carrying contact point 2 while remaining practically stationary in reality has a slight oscillating mouse .circuit through platinum plate 29.

contact is merelyan auxiliary or safety de-.

tion at the portionwhere it is pivotally mounted at 19. As the carriage advances and compresses spring 4 it brings contact points 2 and 3 into contact, closing the circuit and magnetizin the coil switch which operates the mechanism to shift the reproducer to its initial position.

In other classes of records'where no last annular groove is provided the needle runs out on the steeper-pitched inwardly eatending spiral groove in which the tone groove terminates on that part of the record not provided with tone grooves, compressing spring 4 and causing contact points 2 and 3to come into contact and cause a similar closing of the circuit and resetting of the reproducer to initial playing position.

Inasmuch as the records on the market are not standardized I have devised means to take care of the class of records which has a fast lead or spiral groove leading from the last tone groove to a common inner groove at a given center and to do this I ave provided contact point screw 28, as shown in Fig. 1 threaded into insulated bar 11 and adjustable by means of lock nut 31. This cortact screw gets its circuit from bar or track 5 by means of busbar 32.

In operation, when the needle hits the fast lead or spiral groove that leads from the end-of the tone groov'to an inner groove on the record, it carr es the'reproducer 1 forward to meet contact 28, thus completilng T iis vice to .cause a quick action should contact points 2' and 3' fail to come into engage ment. Contact points 3' and 3 are mounted on springs to allow slight: additional travel of repro'ducer after the points have come in contact. This allows leeway so that the needle will not be forced across the record and scratch it by the leadscrew forcing the carriage against it before the resetting mechanism is actuated.

The closing of any of these contact points causes the mechanical action which raises the tone arm and returns the reproducer to starting point, which action by means of p springs 4 and. 4 automatically starts 're-.

tional set of contact points .30 on the reproducer 1 and a busbar 27 hingedly mounted on pivot 34 on side bar 24 of carriage and through which it receives its current. Referring to Fig. 2, I have provided weight 36 at the free end of the busbar, and have also provided-stop bracket to limit-its downward motion.

Busbar 27 is limited to vertical motion,

' having no horizontal motion. In the center and directly over insulated shoe 30, mounted on reproducer 1,- I have provided contact point 27'. At the beginning'of an Edison record, which is much thicker than other records, the reproducer is lowered as in the previous case, but on account of the thickness of the record it is raised considerably higher, brlnging lnsulating shoe 30 under point 27 and in contact therewith, raising usbar 27 and bringing weight 36 into action as stop 33 is then inoperative. As in the previous cases, the lead screw follows the reproducer and until the end of the record is reached, point 27 rests on insulated shoe 30, but at the end of the record the reproducer either immediately starts toward the center of the record in the steepe pitched inwardly extended spiral groove where one is provided at the end of the tone grooves, or remains in the last" annular groove, there being I no standardized constructionadopted by the manufacturers. In

-'either instance, a forward or backward movement'of the reproducer causes contact point 27' of the weighted busbar 27 to conic in contact with contact points 30 (see Fig. 3), to close'the circuit and reset the reproducer to the' beginning of the record. If

the needle enters the circular groove, at.

.the end of arecord the sound box will be stationary while the carriage continues movement. Under those conditions 27 will engage left hand 30'. 1f the needle enters a steeperpitched inwardly extending spiral "theatre average phonograph record, and this range of movement also overcomes any variations due to the turntable running out of true.

It might be noted that when playing an i Edison record contact'points 2', and3 and contact points 2 and 3 are not utilized as they are raised out of operative position;

also, that Edison records do not have their tone grooves approach as nearly to the center as other records and that contact points 28 and 29 do' notcome into action.

During the playing of records of types,

other than the Edison, contactpoints and 27 are not in operation.

The positioning of contact points 30- relative to contact member 27 is illustrated in Fig. 3, which figure also illustrates how contactpoints 28'and 29 would come in contact to complete the circuit. The reason for the non-reliance'on completion of the circuit to operate the resetting mechanism contact points 2 and 2 and contact points 3 and 3 together with springs 4 and 4'Jat the end of the playing of an Edison record is that the tone groove in the record isso shallow that they will not overcome X the pressure of springs 4: and 4 or cause suflicient pressure,

on contact points 2 and 2' or 3 and 3 or points 28 and 29 to eflect the'closing of the circuit at any of these contact points. By

utilizing contact point 27" and contact points 30practically no pressure is needed to move the reproducer insulated shoe '30 under point 27, it being merely a slidingaction and the weight 36 creates suificient pressure upon contact-points, 27 and 30' to take the place of the tension allowable in usin a laterally out record the tonegroove of w liichis deep enough to exert the-required pressure needed to throw the contact points into contact with each other.

Inasmuch as these points (28 and 29) are not required to operate until near the end of the record I have provided 'on track 5 the insulation 5" from the bushing 6 to a point calculated to bring rollers 25 into contact with the track "only after the major part of the shortest records made has been'played. The object of this insulation is to insure against any possibility of these points coming into contact before the ma or portion of the record has been played. As long as rollers 25 are on insulating material 5" no electric cincuit sible.

'and 2 forms a part.

which covers a section of 5'" can Zoe completed, but as soon asrollers 25 pass over insulation 5" onto the circuit carrying track 5, a completion of the circuit through the contact points mentioned is pos- Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing there is illustrated the full electric circuit of which the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1 The closing of the switch 199 starts the rotatioitof thetiirn- 7 table which has been elevatedint playing position. The closing on swit h 2 0 introduoes the main curr nt into transformer 201 I The current leaves transformer 201 at 6) volts through busbars A andB which sup- -ply current to the various coils operatingthe machine from this transformer current. When the playing of the record has been completed one of the various sets of con-' tact points previously described in this specification is closed and the circuit completed, the circuit including switch magnet 59 to which it is led from main busbar B, at C, and leaving magnet 59 at D, fol owing wire 22 to binding .post 8 placed on end track 5. This grounds the circuit to all metal parts except the tone arm assembly, allowi it to follow to thecontact points above escribed and illustrated in Figs. .1 and 2, to wire 23, completing circuit at G with main busbar A. The closing of the above described circuit energizes switch magnet 59 which attracts L-shaped magnet 60, causing hook 64 to re-' lease movable circuit contact lever 62 which falls in contact with stationary circuit con tact 63. This action closes the circuit, energizing solenoid 56. 'This circuit starts at H where current is tapped from main bus bar B, entering solenoid 56 at I and leaving same at I, where it is led to movable cir-. cuit contact lever 62 by wire K through. stationary-contact 63, completing circuit to Wire L which joins busbar A at M. The energizing of solenoid 56 causes steel core 53 to recede within the solenoid in turn actuating mechanism which raises the tone arm," brings a new turntable into playing position and returns the reproducer by gravity to the starting point .of the record just brought into position for playing, as illustrated in Fig.7. 1

Magnetic switches '58 and 170 act primarily as impulse. switches to throw into operation the permanent switches at movable circuit arm levers 62 and 17 4. This is necessary because the closing of the contact points on the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is only momentary. I

When it is desired to repeat a record any one of the movable toothed slides 180, as shown in Fig. 6, corresponding'to the particular record. to be repeated 15' drawn out of the slide table 177 the number of notches correspondingto the number of times it is desired that that particular record rt; pea-ted. These sliding tooth bars 180 are set manually before the machine is started,

v 1. In an electrically operated phonograph, the "combination of a reproducer, means for mounting said reproducer, said, means permitting of a limited degree of both lateral and vertical movement, and a plurality of electrical contact points arrangedto permit ofone or more of said contacts being closed when either lateral or vertical movement of the reproducer. occurs,'. for the purpose of electrically actuw 'ating mechanism to reset the reproducer.

'2. In an electric phonbgrapl1'of t-he class described having means for automatically resetting the reproducer to starting position on a record when it reaches the end of the tone groove'of the record, the combination of spaced track members, a carriage rollably mounted on said track members,

a reproducer pivotally mounted on and carried by the'carriage, a lead screw positioned in proximity, to and parallel with the track members, said lead Screw having threads corresponding in pitch with the tone groove of the record, a threaded nut attached to the carriage and engaging the lead screw whereby when the reproducer is moved out of its normal position on reaching the end of the open groove itwill close an electrical circuit to actuate mechanism to reset the reproducer to startingposition.

In combination" with the apparatus described in claim 1, featherweight springs engaging thefree'end of the reproducer to normally hold same spaced from the contacts which close the circuit when the re producer is moved'in a lateral direction, as occurs when it reaches the end of the open groove.

4:. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 2, a hingedly mounted weight bar positioned above the reproducer, said bar havin contact points, the reproducer also havm'ga correspondingly positioned contact adapted to engage the previously mentioned contacts to close the circuit, whereby to actuate mechanism for resetting the" reproducer to starting position.

5'. In an electrical automatic phonograph,

having means for resetting the reproducer' Least to when it reaches the end of the tone groove of a record, the combination of telescopic arm, spaced parallel tracks, a carriage rollably mounted on said tracks, spring means for pre Jenting lateral movement of the re producer to close the circu t until it reaches the end of. the groove, a plurality of contact points arranged to positively close the circuit when the end of the tone groove is reached, a busbar positioned transversely of the tracks and included in the electric circuit, one of the tracks having insulation extending a sutiicient portion of the track to positively prevent the closing of a circuit until the reproducer needle has passed over the major portion of the record, and

ineans for actuatin the carriage and reproducer carried thereby in synchcronism with the rotation of the record.

6. In an electric automatic phonograph having electric control means for resetting the reproducer when it reaches the end of the tone groove of a record, the combine.-

tion 01' a telescopic tone arm, a reproducer positioned at the end of said telescopictone arm, spaced parallel tracks, a carriage rollably mounted on saidtracks, spring means for preventing lateral movement f the reproducer to close the circuit until it reaches the end of the tone groove, a plurality of contact points arranged to positively close thecircuit when the end of the tone groove is reached, a busbar positioned transversely. of the tracks and included inthe electric circuit, one of thetracks having insulation extending a sufiicient portion of the track to positively prevent the closing of a circuit until the reproducr needle has passed over the major portion of the record, meansfor actuating the carriage and reproducer carried thereby in synchronism with iihe.

rotation of the record, said means including f a lead screw having threads corresponding in number per inch to'the threads on the particular record to be played, and means for operatively connecting said lead screw with the carriage which carries the reproducer, substantially-as and for the purposes described. l v

. 7; In wmbinatio-n with the device described in' claim 5, means for regulating the distance of one of the wntact points'laterally from the reproducer to permit "or its adjustment of the reproducer for operation ondiflt'erent types of phonograph records.

SQAs anew article of manufacture for use in connection with a reproducer resetting mechanism in an automatic phonograph of the class described, the combination of-ia reproducer mounting means for said reproducer adapted to permit both lateral and vertical movement of the repro ducer, the reproducer having electrical contact points, and contact points on the-mechanism carrying the reproducer, whereby an i electric circuit may be closed on either lat eral or vertical vibration of the reproducer of a predetermined extent.

9. In an electrical phonograph, the com- 5 bination' of a reproducer, mounting means forsaid reproducer, said mounting means permitting of both lateral and vertical movement of the reproducer, contact points on the reproducer, a rollably mounted carriage which moves with the reproducer, a weighted spring busbar supported on said carriage, depending contact members disposed to engage upstanding contact members of the reproducer upon vertical movement of same.

COLM L. ORD. 

